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Antonius #3
Antonius: Soldier of Fate
Antonius: Soldier of Fate:
Marcus Antonius has it all—power, prestige, a heroic military reputation, and the love of Queen Cleopatra. But as master of Rome’s Eastern provinces and kingdoms, he must maintain peace, and in so doing, he sacrifices his own happiness, yoked within a loveless marriage and an eroding alliance. As Octavian’s star rises, Marcus must compete with his rival’s success, though it leads to an embittered struggle threatening to end their unity.
Once Marcus finally takes matters into his own hands, his fate becomes tied to the East—and Cleopatra. Far from Rome and his seat of power, a horrific campaign to fulfill Julius Caesar’s vision will forever alter him. He is a man torn between two countries and two families, and ultimately—a soldier fated to be the catalyst transforming Rome from Republic to Empire.
Marcus Antonius has it all—power, prestige, a heroic military reputation, and the love of Queen Cleopatra. But as master of Rome’s Eastern provinces and kingdoms, he must maintain peace, and in so doing, he sacrifices his own happiness, yoked within a loveless marriage and an eroding alliance. As Octavian’s star rises, Marcus must compete with his rival’s success, though it leads to an embittered struggle threatening to end their unity.
Once Marcus finally takes matters into his own hands, his fate becomes tied to the East—and Cleopatra. Far from Rome and his seat of power, a horrific campaign to fulfill Julius Caesar’s vision will forever alter him. He is a man torn between two countries and two families, and ultimately—a soldier fated to be the catalyst transforming Rome from Republic to Empire.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2020
44 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Brook Allen
4 books109 followersAuthor Brook Allen has a passion for history. Her newest project, West of Santillane spotlights history from a little closer to home. It’s the story of Julia Hancock, who married famed explorer, William Clark. Each character of this thrilling, adventurous period was researched throughout southwest Virginia and into Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota. It launched in March of 2024.
Brook belongs to the Historical Novel Society and attends conferences as often as possible to study craft and meet fellow authors. In 2019, her novel Antonius: Son of Rome won the Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year Award. In 2020, it was honored with a silver medal in the international Reader’s Favorite Book Reviewers Book Awards and then won First Place in the prestigious Chaucer Division in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, 2020.
Though she graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. in Music Education, Brook has always loved writing. She completed a Masters program at Hollins University with an emphasis in Ancient Roman studies, which helped prepare her for authoring her Antonius Trilogy. Brook will soon retire from public education and will begin writing FULL-TIME!
Her personal interests include travel, cycling, hiking in the woods, reading, and spending downtime with her husband and big, black dog, Jak. She lives in the heart of southwest Virginia in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
Brook belongs to the Historical Novel Society and attends conferences as often as possible to study craft and meet fellow authors. In 2019, her novel Antonius: Son of Rome won the Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year Award. In 2020, it was honored with a silver medal in the international Reader’s Favorite Book Reviewers Book Awards and then won First Place in the prestigious Chaucer Division in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, 2020.
Though she graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. in Music Education, Brook has always loved writing. She completed a Masters program at Hollins University with an emphasis in Ancient Roman studies, which helped prepare her for authoring her Antonius Trilogy. Brook will soon retire from public education and will begin writing FULL-TIME!
Her personal interests include travel, cycling, hiking in the woods, reading, and spending downtime with her husband and big, black dog, Jak. She lives in the heart of southwest Virginia in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 8, 2020
“Truth is always so enlightening…”
Caesar is dead, as are those responsible for his murder. After over 100 years of conflict, what the Empire needed now more than ever was stability and peace. However, even in death Caesar still had the power to divide and, it seemed, to conquer.
They may have been drifting apart, but to name Octavian as his heir, to dismiss his own son made no sense to Marcus Antonius.
Octavian may well be good with words, but he is an arrogant man. To make matters worse, Octavian leads from behind his army. The Empire needs a strong leader, a warrior. It does not need a conceited boy. It needs Antonius.
However, Antonius has many enemies, and he keeps making more. Whereas Octavian has the privilege of being Caesar’s adopted son and named heir. He also knows what to say and when to say it. If Antonius is not careful, Octavian could make a formidable enemy.
If he is to survive, then Antonius must be prepared to compromise with Octavian. If Antonius could control the Eastern Empire, then that would be enough, for now, as long as Octavian treated him and his men with the respect they deserved.
However, Octavian is a fickle ally, and he has ambitions of his own…
From a savage execution to the defamation of a once-celebrated war hero, Antonius: Soldier of Fate (Antonius Trilogy, Book #3) is the enthralling story of Marcus Antonius’ dramatic fall from grace.
The victors write history, and they take pride in assassinating the characters of their enemies — for thousands of years, we have believed Octavian’s propaganda. Marcus Antonius, a man who was bewitched by an Egyptian Queen, a man who turned his back on Rome for the pleasures that the flesh offered, and then killed himself when he realised he was defeated. A dishonourable end for a dishonourable man. But what if we looked past the defamation, what if we sought the real Marcus Antonius? I have often wondered what we would find. Would we discover a disgraceful, disreputable man, or one who had been grievously wronged?
At last, there is a Historical Fiction series that explores in-depth the life of Marcus Antonius. In her fabulous trilogy, Allen has looked past the twisted truth that suited a political agenda and has depicted an Antonius that was a courageous man, a loyal friend, and a worthy enemy. Soldier of Fate (Antonius Trilogy, Book #3) is a heart-wrenchingly gripping read about the final years of Marcus Antonius’ life.
Having read the first two books in this beguiling trilogy, I found myself both looking forward to and dreading the final instalment — anyone familiar with Roman history will already know how this story is going to end. Therefore, how refreshing it was to read this sorry tale from Antonius’ perspective — without the persuasive narrative of a man who was destined to become the first Roman Emperor. Forget everything you think you know about Antonius and be prepared for a harrowing, tear-jerking story of love, hate and a desperate betrayal.
With a crimson-bordered senatorial toga, that warns of a desperate foreshadowing of the blood that will be spilt, comes a novel that is as rich in historical detail as it is in story. Wanting to replicate Alexander the Great’s success, Antonius set himself upon a path that would end, much like Alexander’s did, with his untimely death. Allen has explored the latter years of Antonius’ life with a historian’s knowledge and a novelist’s intuition for what makes a captivating read.
Allen’s Antonius is a man who has triumphed over adversity, who started with nothing and who became so tantalisingly close to having everything he wanted. Allen has given her readers a protagonist who wants to do the right thing, not only for himself and his family but for the Empire. He is also a man who is very ambitious and isn’t afraid to stand up to other powerful men.
His relationship with Octavian, in this book, is one of mutual loathing, but unlike Octavian, Antonius is a man who sometimes acts before he speaks, and he is quick to accuse Octavian for things of which he has no actual hard evidence, which makes him seem irrational and dangerous to those whom he opposes. Octavian is a very clever, very shrewd man who can politically outmanoeuvre Antonius and force him to do things that he does not want to. However, when Antonius feels free from Octavian’s reach, he becomes complacent, almost arrogant in his assumptions that the East is his and he can rule it as he sees fit. He allows his influence in Rome to wane which, as Allen so clearly demonstrates with her wonderfully lyrical prose, is political suicide. I was fascinated with how the relationship between Antonius and Octavian was portrayed in this book. Octavian is a cruel man, but everything he does, he does for a reason — for a political agenda and his own unquenchable ambition.
In contrast, Antonius wants peace, and he is determined to achieve it. But Antonius is a man that stumbles and, despite his outward appearance of control, he does have a tendency to overthink and to judge himself most harshly for things that were beyond his control — saying that however, he is no innocent victim. Sometimes, he behaves disgracefully, which I thought made him all the more real in the telling. Allen’s, Antonius is a deeply flawed man, but that is what makes him so very appealing to the reader. I thought Antonius’ depiction throughout this series was absolutely sublime, and I applaud Allen for having the courage to write a candid account of this remarkable man’s life.
When one thinks of Antonius, then one cannot help but also think of the beautiful Egyptian Queen who was destined to be his downfall. In this novel, Cleopatra is no whore who Antonius sacrificed everything for. She is not a wanton seductress who lures the innocent Roman towards a dishonourable death – although there is something of the forbidden about her, which makes her incredibly appealing to Antonius. Instead, Allen has given her readers a Cleopatra who is an astute politician, a compassionate ruler, when compassion allows, a mother, and a woman who is, for the first time in her life, deeply in love. The political obstacles that Cleopatra has to overcome to maintain control of the throne, makes her at times seem rather cold towards those who have evoked her anger, and she is, therefore, a sharp contrast to Antonius, who is very reluctant to take another’s life without cause. However, Allen has demonstrated the challenges that Cleopatra faced with a sensitivity to the history of the time. In a world dominated by men, Cleopatra spat in the face of their masculinity, because she was a competent ruler, who put her country first, and was determined to leave a different legacy for her children compared to the one that she had been left with. Her relationship with Antonius in this novel is one of mutual respect and a deep, pure love. I thought Allen’s depiction of Cleopatra was fabulous.
Antonius: Soldier of Fate (Antonius Trilogy, Book #3) by Brook Allen is a work of extraordinary scholarship and one that once started is impossible to turn away from. It is a traumatic tale, yet somehow it is a beautiful one at the same time. If nothing else, this book shines a light on a man and a woman who have been cast as villains for far too long.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
December 9, 2020
Soldier of Fate concludes Antonius’s remarkable story - it narrates Marcus’s Parthian campaign which started on a high note and horrendously went all wrong at the end; his domestic woes being married to Octavia in Rome and Cleopatra in Egypt; the unceasing arguments with Octavian; the disillusionment of his soldiers, and the tragic Battle of Actium.
Without doubt, Brook Allen has ably given Marcus Antonius his day in court. She has provided deep insights on what made Marcus tick – why he acted the way he did, his great points, flaws, generosity, exuberance, capacity for love, and inner demons. The beauty of the trilogy is that while it astounds readers of the extent of the power and might of Rome’s political and military machinery, it makes readers empathise of what it was like to be on the other side - continuously harangued by propaganda, bitterly abandoned by the troops, betrayed by perceived allies, and plagued by self-doubts on how a true Roman should carry himself.
Helmets off to Brook for this wonderful trilogy and significant contribution to the ancient Roman lore!
Without doubt, Brook Allen has ably given Marcus Antonius his day in court. She has provided deep insights on what made Marcus tick – why he acted the way he did, his great points, flaws, generosity, exuberance, capacity for love, and inner demons. The beauty of the trilogy is that while it astounds readers of the extent of the power and might of Rome’s political and military machinery, it makes readers empathise of what it was like to be on the other side - continuously harangued by propaganda, bitterly abandoned by the troops, betrayed by perceived allies, and plagued by self-doubts on how a true Roman should carry himself.
Helmets off to Brook for this wonderful trilogy and significant contribution to the ancient Roman lore!
October 18, 2021
The final part of the trilogy about the life of Marcus Antonius (Mark Anthony) sees him, unsurprisingly, in Egypt. No doubt it's a familiar story to all, for don't we all know what happened to Anthony and Cleopatra?
Perhaps we don't all know, though, about what else he was doing in the east when he wasn't with his love, and the depiction of his fight against the Parthians is told in stark and graphic detail. The suffering of his own army is poignantly written and very moving. The mighty Roman army is put under a microscope to show us the individual soldiers who were, lest we forget, just ordinary human beings. Even in Egypt, Marcus can't escape the machinations of the Roman political behemoth and we are reminded that any notion of power-sharing was but a fantasy.
Octavian is determined that it shall be he, and not Marcus, who prevails. Marcus knows, and he also knows that he is not as strong as he once was, and this is portrayed very movingly. Of course, we know it can't end well and it doesn't, but Ms Allen produces a twist at the very end, which takes nothing away from the legend, but adds another layer of emotion to what is already a powerful ending.
She is to be congratulated on taking on a subject so seemingly well known and adding new dimensions to the story. A series to be read and savoured; highly recommended. (I cried at the end.)
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Perhaps we don't all know, though, about what else he was doing in the east when he wasn't with his love, and the depiction of his fight against the Parthians is told in stark and graphic detail. The suffering of his own army is poignantly written and very moving. The mighty Roman army is put under a microscope to show us the individual soldiers who were, lest we forget, just ordinary human beings. Even in Egypt, Marcus can't escape the machinations of the Roman political behemoth and we are reminded that any notion of power-sharing was but a fantasy.
Octavian is determined that it shall be he, and not Marcus, who prevails. Marcus knows, and he also knows that he is not as strong as he once was, and this is portrayed very movingly. Of course, we know it can't end well and it doesn't, but Ms Allen produces a twist at the very end, which takes nothing away from the legend, but adds another layer of emotion to what is already a powerful ending.
She is to be congratulated on taking on a subject so seemingly well known and adding new dimensions to the story. A series to be read and savoured; highly recommended. (I cried at the end.)
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
September 11, 2020
This third and final installment of the Antonius trilogy was my favorite for a few reasons: (1) I loved the prominent role played by Cleopatra, including the details of her affair & then marriage to Marcus; (2) having read books 1 and 2, I was accustomed to Allen's writing style and voice, so felt that I was able to "fall into" the story with ease; (3) I enjoyed the domestic picture--Antonius' relationship with his mother, the (many) children, spouses, weddings, etc.
Of course, there were also plenty of battle scenes to keep the tension and action high!
I particularly loved Allen's portrayal of Cleopatra, the role of a woman in a warrior's world. She is fierce, sexual, says what she wants, does things on her terms. Her role in this final book will appeal greatly to female readers.
Allen's grasp of names, idioms/expressions, places of battle, and terminology is truly second to none. She has managed to distill a lifetime into a cohesive epic narrative, and each chapter reads as an exemplary snippet of Marcus' life during that year/turning point. This is a rare skill, far above and beyond the ability of most writers, and how she kept it all sorted, I will truly never know.
Narrative flow & transitions are spot-on. Very readable.
Five stars for this book!
Of course, there were also plenty of battle scenes to keep the tension and action high!
I particularly loved Allen's portrayal of Cleopatra, the role of a woman in a warrior's world. She is fierce, sexual, says what she wants, does things on her terms. Her role in this final book will appeal greatly to female readers.
Allen's grasp of names, idioms/expressions, places of battle, and terminology is truly second to none. She has managed to distill a lifetime into a cohesive epic narrative, and each chapter reads as an exemplary snippet of Marcus' life during that year/turning point. This is a rare skill, far above and beyond the ability of most writers, and how she kept it all sorted, I will truly never know.
Narrative flow & transitions are spot-on. Very readable.
Five stars for this book!
January 3, 2022
A wildly entertaining third book in the Antonius trilogy. Brooke Allen did an amazing job of pulling together the limited historical data available on Marc Anthony. I highly recommend this trilogy for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
July 6, 2025
'Antonius: Soldier of Fate' by Brook Allen is an extremely worthy conclusion to her Antonius trilogy!
This book tracks Mark Antony from the conclusion of the battle of Philippi to his tragic end in Alexandria. The betrayals he experiences at Octavian's hands are cutting. The choices that lead to him losing power in Rome seem both rational and unfortunate. Allen keeps the reader in close concert with Mark Antony, following his actions and thoughts intimately throughout the book.
Antonius's failed Parthia campaign was especially well-written. Every single wretched day of his army's retreat is rendered in harrowing detail. The reader gets a real sense of Antony's despair, the realities of his nightmares coming true, and the dark melancholy it plunges him into. That retreat into depression, which haunts Antony throughout the rest of his life, was very well-done. Sufferers of depression will certainly identify with Antony's struggles (I know I did).
The highlight of this book, of course, is Antony's relationship with Cleopatra. Their love, their family, and their tragedy was written so beautifully and movingly. There is a reason their love has become legendary in the centuries since, and you get a real sense of their immense love from the way Allen portrays them here. Despite their being encouraged by various people by many turns, both refuse to turn on each other - in the end, choosing death over betrayal. The scenes of Antony with his children by Cleopatra do pull on your heartstrings. His affection for his children, and the pain it causes him to see them embroiled in the civil war is extremely poignant. You will find yourself getting weepy by the book's end!
The battle of Actium was relayed with extreme clarity, making it very easy for the reader to picture the scene of Antony's epic defeat. The aftermath, by extension, augment the doom hanging over the book's final chapter. The action really propels the story forward and is very easy to follow.
And, of course, the characterization is what really propels this trilogy to greatness. The characters are rendered completely, with all their humanity and flaws on display. You see Marcus making his mistakes, but feel his sense of inevitability. You understand Cleopatra and the depth of her devotion. You admire Octavia's generosity of spirit. You feel sympathy for little Selene and young Antyllus. Eros in particular was gut-wrenching. The desertions of Antony's most trusted allies at the end, particularly his legionary officers, hit hard - though you can see the difficult positions they were placed in. Allen keeps us with Antony, so certain events happening in Rome or Alexandria during his absence from those locations are missing here. And I think that is only fitting, for this is Antony's story. It stays with its hero to the bitter end, and is all the stronger for it.
I cannot recommend this trilogy highly enough. This is far and away my favorite rendering of Mark Antony in historical fiction. Allen's trilogy breathes life into a near-mythic figure, making him once more a mortal, flawed, complicated man that we all can relate to.
This book tracks Mark Antony from the conclusion of the battle of Philippi to his tragic end in Alexandria. The betrayals he experiences at Octavian's hands are cutting. The choices that lead to him losing power in Rome seem both rational and unfortunate. Allen keeps the reader in close concert with Mark Antony, following his actions and thoughts intimately throughout the book.
Antonius's failed Parthia campaign was especially well-written. Every single wretched day of his army's retreat is rendered in harrowing detail. The reader gets a real sense of Antony's despair, the realities of his nightmares coming true, and the dark melancholy it plunges him into. That retreat into depression, which haunts Antony throughout the rest of his life, was very well-done. Sufferers of depression will certainly identify with Antony's struggles (I know I did).
The highlight of this book, of course, is Antony's relationship with Cleopatra. Their love, their family, and their tragedy was written so beautifully and movingly. There is a reason their love has become legendary in the centuries since, and you get a real sense of their immense love from the way Allen portrays them here. Despite their being encouraged by various people by many turns, both refuse to turn on each other - in the end, choosing death over betrayal. The scenes of Antony with his children by Cleopatra do pull on your heartstrings. His affection for his children, and the pain it causes him to see them embroiled in the civil war is extremely poignant. You will find yourself getting weepy by the book's end!
The battle of Actium was relayed with extreme clarity, making it very easy for the reader to picture the scene of Antony's epic defeat. The aftermath, by extension, augment the doom hanging over the book's final chapter. The action really propels the story forward and is very easy to follow.
And, of course, the characterization is what really propels this trilogy to greatness. The characters are rendered completely, with all their humanity and flaws on display. You see Marcus making his mistakes, but feel his sense of inevitability. You understand Cleopatra and the depth of her devotion. You admire Octavia's generosity of spirit. You feel sympathy for little Selene and young Antyllus. Eros in particular was gut-wrenching. The desertions of Antony's most trusted allies at the end, particularly his legionary officers, hit hard - though you can see the difficult positions they were placed in. Allen keeps us with Antony, so certain events happening in Rome or Alexandria during his absence from those locations are missing here. And I think that is only fitting, for this is Antony's story. It stays with its hero to the bitter end, and is all the stronger for it.
I cannot recommend this trilogy highly enough. This is far and away my favorite rendering of Mark Antony in historical fiction. Allen's trilogy breathes life into a near-mythic figure, making him once more a mortal, flawed, complicated man that we all can relate to.
August 4, 2021
42 BC. With Julius Caesar’s assassins now found and executed, Octavian’s rise to power is as fast as it is devious. Marcus Antonius wants to avoid further bloodshed and vies for peace, if only Octavian wouldn’t continually thwart his plans. Octavian seizes Marcus’s legions, refuses to send help when called, closes Roman ports to Marcus, and corners Marcus into marrying Octavian’s recently widowed and pregnant sister, Octavia. Despite the marriage, Marcus’s heart was long ago captured by Queen Cleopatra. Marcus and Cleopatra’s love blinds them to the ever-increasing signs of loss and betrayal that will eventually culminate in the destruction of the last dynastic pharaoh of Egypt, as well as the lives they hold most dear.
This book portrays the final 12 years of the life of, as he’s known today, “Mark Antony.” Because of the damnatio memoriae (damning a person’s memory), his life was virtually erased from ancient Rome. Even his birthday was declared a “black day.” Despite its being book 3 of a trilogy, I found it moderately easy to jump into the story, which opens directly within a conflict between Marcus and Octavian. Tension is high throughout as Marcus and Octavian try to outwit each other. The relationship between Marcus and his children adds emotional weight to the narrative. There are intriguing domestic and military details. What I found most captivating were the moments where Marcus makes choices that cost him the most, as the author does a commendable job bringing readers into Marcus’s point of view. It’s easy to understand his motivation and vision for a greater Rome. It also reaffirmed my belief that the world wasn’t ready for the progressiveness that Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius represented. Allen does a great job bringing fresh insight into a well-known story, with an eye on historical details and character depth.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
This book portrays the final 12 years of the life of, as he’s known today, “Mark Antony.” Because of the damnatio memoriae (damning a person’s memory), his life was virtually erased from ancient Rome. Even his birthday was declared a “black day.” Despite its being book 3 of a trilogy, I found it moderately easy to jump into the story, which opens directly within a conflict between Marcus and Octavian. Tension is high throughout as Marcus and Octavian try to outwit each other. The relationship between Marcus and his children adds emotional weight to the narrative. There are intriguing domestic and military details. What I found most captivating were the moments where Marcus makes choices that cost him the most, as the author does a commendable job bringing readers into Marcus’s point of view. It’s easy to understand his motivation and vision for a greater Rome. It also reaffirmed my belief that the world wasn’t ready for the progressiveness that Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius represented. Allen does a great job bringing fresh insight into a well-known story, with an eye on historical details and character depth.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
April 13, 2021
Wow, what an ending to a controversial but remarkable Roman! I've never known much about Marc Antony before--other than him being with Cleopatra--but now... I have no words. From his fantastic military career (even though it diminished at the end), his loves and arranged marriages, the betrayals, snubs, and backstabs, to the heated strife with that arrogant, irritating Octavian, his overwhelming depressions, and the many tragedies he suffered through...and remained standing.
What a man.
I HIGHLY recommend reading this wonderful trilogy to get an insight into the tumultuous, fragile political and military past of Ancient Rome and to read an account of a great man who was only human, like the rest of us.
What a man.
I HIGHLY recommend reading this wonderful trilogy to get an insight into the tumultuous, fragile political and military past of Ancient Rome and to read an account of a great man who was only human, like the rest of us.
November 12, 2021
A tragic fate: a Roman death
The final book in this series ties the life of Marcus Antonius, Roman general, Trimutive, and Queen Cleopatra's husband. Octavian and Marcus are pass all falsehoods as Egypt becomes the focus of Octavian. Wonderfully written, filled with action, and tragic romance.
The final book in this series ties the life of Marcus Antonius, Roman general, Trimutive, and Queen Cleopatra's husband. Octavian and Marcus are pass all falsehoods as Egypt becomes the focus of Octavian. Wonderfully written, filled with action, and tragic romance.
July 16, 2023
Superb
This is a satisfying end to a well written, impressively researched novel. The intricacies of life 2,000+ years ago - of mendacity, betrayal, bravery and ability - bring Marcus Antonius to life. Very well done!
This is a satisfying end to a well written, impressively researched novel. The intricacies of life 2,000+ years ago - of mendacity, betrayal, bravery and ability - bring Marcus Antonius to life. Very well done!
November 17, 2020
Marcus Antonius
Epic telling with many twists and turn ,the characters stride across the ages ,very impressed with the author and will look for more of her work!
Epic telling with many twists and turn ,the characters stride across the ages ,very impressed with the author and will look for more of her work!
March 3, 2021
We are proud to announce that ANTONIUS: SOLDIER OF FATE by Brook Allen is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
October 20, 2020
All good things must come to an end, and so our hero Antonius does his swan song with Cleopatra. Most of us know the story, so the anticipation is in the delivery, not the mystery. And Brook Allen does not disappoint! Antonius is very relatable; a hero among soldiers who loves his men and can party with the best of them. His fall from grace is wholly attributed to his obsession with the unpopular Cleopatra and the fears that he would take on her eastern manners. Of course, Octavian is ready to add fuel to the smoking discontent, using all the tricks his scheming mind is capable of. Poor Antonius doesn’t stand a chance; he is too moral to use Octavian’s disreputable practices against him—too loyal a Roman to act against his own innate principles. He weds Octavia in order to stop another civil war despite the fact that the marriage is doomed to failure—and totally against his inclination. But he felt it was the right thing to do. For Rome. Alas, no matter what Antonius did, he played into Octavian’s hands. It was almost like watching a spider play with its victim:
“But who knows when that will happen? Every time I think the time is right to sever ties with Octavian, I find myself unable to do so. Truth is, though I command the East, he commands Rome. I’m as Roman as he is and must maintain imperium there, but it’s getting harder and harder to do from where I am. Oh, in theory I share ownership through the triumvirate. But that’s just what it is: theory. I’m so far removed it’ll take winning in Parthia to keep Rome’s eyes on me, or I stand to lose all.” He shook his head, changing the subject and chuckling, “Did you hear about Octavian’s wedding to his new wife, Livia? Somehow he coerced her newly divorced husband into giving her away at the ceremony.”
“I only wish there was proof he murdered Lucius, proof that you could take straight to the Senate.”
“He’s too cunning to slip up like that. He’s ten times more ruthless than I.”
Cleopatra was the big surprise to me. Although strong and willful, she was also soft and loving—accommodating, even. There was very little manipulation on her part. Her love for Antony seemed genuine, even when he doubted it. She may have been misguided at times, but her actions seemed to be in his interest first, Egypt second. I’m not entirely sure how this “stacks up” against the cynical representations I’ve read about her in the past, but since nobody knows what is the truth and what is biased history, this interpretation is as valid as any other. Ditto for Octavian. Was he really as nasty and devious as portrayed here? I’ve never been able to work it out; can the man who was the savior of Rome in his later years have been such a scoundrel in his youth? And of course Antonius was the biggest conundrum of all. Did he lose his manhood, wrapped around Cleopatra’s finger? Did his judgment fail in the terrible sea battle at Actium? Or was he a glorious warrior who was doomed to lose the war against a man who had every advantage of wealth, position, duplicity, and circumstance? I would say that in this book, we see the latter. It was an excellent read.
“But who knows when that will happen? Every time I think the time is right to sever ties with Octavian, I find myself unable to do so. Truth is, though I command the East, he commands Rome. I’m as Roman as he is and must maintain imperium there, but it’s getting harder and harder to do from where I am. Oh, in theory I share ownership through the triumvirate. But that’s just what it is: theory. I’m so far removed it’ll take winning in Parthia to keep Rome’s eyes on me, or I stand to lose all.” He shook his head, changing the subject and chuckling, “Did you hear about Octavian’s wedding to his new wife, Livia? Somehow he coerced her newly divorced husband into giving her away at the ceremony.”
“I only wish there was proof he murdered Lucius, proof that you could take straight to the Senate.”
“He’s too cunning to slip up like that. He’s ten times more ruthless than I.”
Cleopatra was the big surprise to me. Although strong and willful, she was also soft and loving—accommodating, even. There was very little manipulation on her part. Her love for Antony seemed genuine, even when he doubted it. She may have been misguided at times, but her actions seemed to be in his interest first, Egypt second. I’m not entirely sure how this “stacks up” against the cynical representations I’ve read about her in the past, but since nobody knows what is the truth and what is biased history, this interpretation is as valid as any other. Ditto for Octavian. Was he really as nasty and devious as portrayed here? I’ve never been able to work it out; can the man who was the savior of Rome in his later years have been such a scoundrel in his youth? And of course Antonius was the biggest conundrum of all. Did he lose his manhood, wrapped around Cleopatra’s finger? Did his judgment fail in the terrible sea battle at Actium? Or was he a glorious warrior who was doomed to lose the war against a man who had every advantage of wealth, position, duplicity, and circumstance? I would say that in this book, we see the latter. It was an excellent read.
November 10, 2020
Antonius: Soldier of Fate by Brook Allen is the final and most compelling book in the Antonius series that masterfully captures the life of Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), a historical enigma that inspired Shakespearean plays. The book spans the time period from the Battle of Philippi (42 BC) to his defeat in Egypt (30 BC). The story explores his fragile, clashing political alliance with Octavian and his relationships with three wives (Fulvia, Octavia, and Cleopatra). The tale also details his failed military campaigns in Parthia and at Actium, any of which could have turned the tide of history if he had been victorious. Antonius is a tragic figure unfairly maligned by Octavian's propaganda and the act of damnatio memoriae by the Roman senate.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the love triangle of Cleopatra and Octavia. After Antonius had begun a relationship with Cleopatra, he is pressured to marry the sister of Octavian, Octavia, to forge a political alliance and quell the political unrest symbolically. Though Octavia was nothing more than a game piece in her brother's struggle for power, she remains loyal to Antonius while treading her relationship with Octavian. Queen Cleopatra is presented as a formidable and cunning ruler faced with maintaining power over Egypt. In many ways, she is equal to Octavian in maneuvering the political climate and will do what is necessary to maintain control. As Octavian continued betraying Antonius's trust, she won his trust by supporting his endeavors financially and emotionally. Their strong bond may have been Antonius's downfall in a patriarchal and ethnocentric society.
What can I say? Octavian had no compunction betraying Antonius and using his sister in his grab for power. It always confounds me that Antonius compromised his political standing to help Octavian with his political arrest that could have deposed him. Having the mind of a soldier, Antonius remains loyal to his legionaries, friends, and family. Ultimately, his devotion to Cleopatra and his unrelenting ambition to defeat Parthia diverted his attention from his real opponent, Octavian.
The tragic ending left me to ponder what if Antonius had defeated the Parthians and not openly embrace Cleopatra as his political ally and wife? How would history have changed? That is why his tragic story resonates with the powerful theme of duty vs. love throughout history.
The Antonius series is highly addictive, even though I knew how the story would end. Author Brook Allen has written a powerful, engaging masterpiece that gets to the essence of Marcus Antonius. Highly recommended.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the love triangle of Cleopatra and Octavia. After Antonius had begun a relationship with Cleopatra, he is pressured to marry the sister of Octavian, Octavia, to forge a political alliance and quell the political unrest symbolically. Though Octavia was nothing more than a game piece in her brother's struggle for power, she remains loyal to Antonius while treading her relationship with Octavian. Queen Cleopatra is presented as a formidable and cunning ruler faced with maintaining power over Egypt. In many ways, she is equal to Octavian in maneuvering the political climate and will do what is necessary to maintain control. As Octavian continued betraying Antonius's trust, she won his trust by supporting his endeavors financially and emotionally. Their strong bond may have been Antonius's downfall in a patriarchal and ethnocentric society.
What can I say? Octavian had no compunction betraying Antonius and using his sister in his grab for power. It always confounds me that Antonius compromised his political standing to help Octavian with his political arrest that could have deposed him. Having the mind of a soldier, Antonius remains loyal to his legionaries, friends, and family. Ultimately, his devotion to Cleopatra and his unrelenting ambition to defeat Parthia diverted his attention from his real opponent, Octavian.
The tragic ending left me to ponder what if Antonius had defeated the Parthians and not openly embrace Cleopatra as his political ally and wife? How would history have changed? That is why his tragic story resonates with the powerful theme of duty vs. love throughout history.
The Antonius series is highly addictive, even though I knew how the story would end. Author Brook Allen has written a powerful, engaging masterpiece that gets to the essence of Marcus Antonius. Highly recommended.
October 5, 2020
This, the third book in Brook Allen’s Antonius trilogy, begins with Marcus Antonius on campaign in Macedonia and with the conflict between Marcus and Caesar’s adopted son Octavian immediately apparent and starkly contrasting the nature of the two men, Marcus the experienced soldier understanding the need for mercy and the fastidious Octavian imperious and untrustworthy. It is this conflict that underpins this novel.
As well as Marcus’s life as a Triumvir of Rome, military commander and Imperator of the East, his personal life is vividly detailed providing an understanding of the man – his political marriages, his deep love of family, and his alliance, both military and emotional, with Cleopatra – the greatest love of his life. We see through Marcus’s eyes, and it is through his interactions with those around him that their characters emerge and we come to understand them, from the calculating weasel Octavian to the great Cleopatra, imperious yet vulnerable. In Marcus Antonius, Allen has created a rounded character showing both his strengths and weaknesses – a flawed man of great ability.
Once again, Allen displays her mastery of the history of Rome and of military history and tactics. She highlights the differences between the culture of Rome and the eastern states as well as vividly recreating the life of a Roman soldier on campaign – the fear, the privations, the dust and the freezing mud, as well as the camaraderie and the glory. It is in his relationships with his men, both comrades and ordinary soldiers, that Marcus Antonius is shown at his best as he suffers and glories with them. The battle scenes are gripping and detailed even to a battle-skimmer like me.
Antonius: Soldier of Fate is an excellent end to the Antonius trilogy which follows Marcus Antonius from his beginnings as the son of a man disgraced by failure through to the military commander and lover of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt – a man who, over 2,000 years on, still lives in popular imagination.
As well as Marcus’s life as a Triumvir of Rome, military commander and Imperator of the East, his personal life is vividly detailed providing an understanding of the man – his political marriages, his deep love of family, and his alliance, both military and emotional, with Cleopatra – the greatest love of his life. We see through Marcus’s eyes, and it is through his interactions with those around him that their characters emerge and we come to understand them, from the calculating weasel Octavian to the great Cleopatra, imperious yet vulnerable. In Marcus Antonius, Allen has created a rounded character showing both his strengths and weaknesses – a flawed man of great ability.
Once again, Allen displays her mastery of the history of Rome and of military history and tactics. She highlights the differences between the culture of Rome and the eastern states as well as vividly recreating the life of a Roman soldier on campaign – the fear, the privations, the dust and the freezing mud, as well as the camaraderie and the glory. It is in his relationships with his men, both comrades and ordinary soldiers, that Marcus Antonius is shown at his best as he suffers and glories with them. The battle scenes are gripping and detailed even to a battle-skimmer like me.
Antonius: Soldier of Fate is an excellent end to the Antonius trilogy which follows Marcus Antonius from his beginnings as the son of a man disgraced by failure through to the military commander and lover of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt – a man who, over 2,000 years on, still lives in popular imagination.
September 26, 2020
In this final installment of Brook Allen’s Marc Antony trilogy the story telling continues to exhibit all those qualities I admire most from my favorite authors. Impeccable research and attention to detail draw the reader into the epic partnership and love story shared by Antony and Cleopatra, paralleled by betrayal, and humiliating military defeat in the East at the hands of Caesar’s treacherous heir Octavian. Allen brings a fresh perspective to the familiar culmination of the Marcus Antonius story that left me well satisfied.
September 7, 2021
Less focused than the first two books, though still a good novel
Merged review:
Good ending to the trilogy, but less focused and compelling than the first two; part of it is that the material about Antonius later life is so biased against him since he lost
Merged review:
Good ending to the trilogy, but less focused and compelling than the first two; part of it is that the material about Antonius later life is so biased against him since he lost
November 18, 2020
Great historical fiction!
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